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Lamar Jackson: 'I’m Just Attacking the Game More, Being More Aggressive'

Baltimore has won six consecutive games.
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OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Lamar Jackson did some soul-searching when he was sidelined on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

The Ravens quarterback had time to sit back, analyze his performance and make the necessary adjustments.

In short, Jackson needed to get back to being his former, playmaking self. 

"I’m just attacking the game more, being more aggressive," Jackson said. "I’ll say, in the beginning of the season, I was conservative a lot; just staying back and getting sacked a lot more. But as the season went on, [when] things break down, my first read is not there, second read is not there, I take advantage of what the defense gives me. That’s pretty much the biggest thing. And we’ve just been finishing – all around." 

Jackson led the Ravens to a five-game winning streak to end the regular season to surge into the playoffs. He accounted for 15 touchdowns — 11 passing and four rushing — with a 115.8 quarterback rating. Jackson also ran for 430 rushing yards over that stretch.

"The whole offense, the whole defense, special teams; all of us have just been finishing," Jackson said. "So, that’s probably the biggest thing about just coming back from quarantine. The whole team is just dialed in right now.”

Jackson won the first playoff game of his career with a 20-13 victory over the Titans in the wild-card round last week. He joined Dan Marino and Patrick Mahomes as the only players in NFL history to have an MVP award and a playoff win by the end of their age-23 season, according to NFL Research.

Jackson carried the ball 16 times for 136 yards — the third-most by a quarterback in postseason history – in the victory over Tennessee. His 48-yard touchdown run in the second quarter was the second-longest scoring run by a quarterback in postseason history behind Colin Kaepernick's 56-yard run against Green Bay in 2013. 

Baltimore will look to keep their season rolling in an AFC divisional game against the red-hot Buffalo Bills, who have won seven consecutive games. 

Jackson silenced his critics by winning his first playoff game. Now, he's ready to lead the Ravens even farther.  

“We got one playoff game down, but we’ve got a tough opponent coming up Saturday, and that’s just the main focus," Jackson said. "I’m not really worried about the past. The Tennessee game is over with. We’ve got to focus on Buffalo, and it’s starting now.”